German rail strikes spread, cause mass disruptions

BERLIN, July 3 (Reuters) German rail workers extended strikes over pay today, causing what operator Deutsche Bahn described as ''massive disruptions'' for millions of morning rush hour commuters across the country.

The GDL union representing train drivers joined strike actions by two other unions that had started yesterday, halting passenger and freight traffic in a rare stoppage for Germany's normally efficient rail network.

The strikes today, which spread to the capital Berlin and Germany's second largest city Hamburg, lasted four hours in most places and local rail lines were worst affected. But they also caused delays to inter-city and international rail traffic.

''This is completely ridiculous,'' said Siegfried Mueller, 46, stranded in a Berlin rail station for four hours after his overnight shift in a meat packing plant ended. ''The trains are late most of the time anyhow and they want more pay. Forget it!'' Roads leading into Berlin were jammed with cars, and bike lanes through Germany's biggest city were clogged with cyclists.

But the feared meltdown was averted as many commuters opted to take the day off or made plans to arrive at work late.

''It's a nice day and I'm trying to stay relaxed about it all,'' said Stefanie Dankwarth, 24, whose commute to her job at an advertising agency tripled to three hours. ''They have a right to strike. But I won't be amused if the strike lasts very long.'' After 2-3 hour stoppages yesterday, the strikes today were widened to include the S-Bahn innercity rail system in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Frankfurt and Hanover as well as the rail operator's lucrative national freight transport system.

''We're trying to do all we can to compensate for the disruptions across the country,'' said Bahn spokesman Achim Strauss. ''It's a difficult situation to get a grip on.'' UNION DEMANDS The Transnet and GDBA unions, which represent 134,000 rail workers, are demanding a 7 percent pay rise. Deutsche Bahn has countered with an offer of two 2 percent raises in 2008 and 2009 and a one-off payment of 300 euros (407.5 dollars).

The two sides failed to narrow their differences in talks on Saturday when a moratorium on staging strikes expired.

The smaller GDL group representing drivers wants a separate deal and is demanding raises of up to 31 percent.

Government-owned Deutsche Bahn has said 9,000 jobs would be put at risk if the company met the wage demands of the unions.

The underground, trams and bus systems continued to operate in Berlin and affected cities. But thousands were stranded in strangely silent terminals like Berlin's central station.

''I'm two hours late for work and won't get paid,'' said Karl Grove, a 57-year-old technician whose 45-minute commute to work turned into a three-hour marathon.

''If they get their pay rise, the Bahn will only raise ticket prices again, and we'll get stuck with the bill.'' REUTERS GT HT1722